A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study involving over 4,000 kids under 18 has found that respiratory syncytial virus co-infections alongside COVID-19 can add increased severity of symptoms among children.  

While it may seem like common sense that having two infections at once increases the severity of symptoms, Dr. Brenda I. Anosike says there’s more to this study due to its connection to COVID-19.  

“While there have been other studies in the past that show infection with influenza and RSV being severe, that’s not the case that we’ve seen with COVID,” said Anosike. “We don’t really know what COVID does.” 

Anosike urges that since there is so much unknown involved with COVID-19, it’s important to take sicknesses like the common cold more seriously.  

“Most people tend to get over a common cold no big deal, but with COVID, it's suggesting that in our children, particularly our younger children less than 5 years of age, it actually might be a big deal if there is a co-infection,” said Anosike.  

Doctors say that the best way to avoid any chance of a co-infection is to mask up.  

“It sounds pretty mundane, but it really has worked,” said Anosike. “When you think about the time we had use of masks, we virtually did not see the flu, we didn’t see all these RSV viruses… we have to mitigate risk during times where the rates … of these viruses are sort of circulating.”